Reversible fulcrum structure



W. C. HEDGCOCK. REVERSIBLE FULCRUM STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG ll. I92].

Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

tries.

wILLIAMo. HEDGCOGK, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, a e AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

REVERSIBLE FULGR'UMI STRUCTURE.

To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. Hum-- COOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Fulcrum Structures, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to a new and 1mproved reversible fulcrum structure and to the co-operation of such mechamsm with a brake beam. This application relates to a modification of the construction shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 459,- 790, filed April 8, 1921.

It is an object of the present invention to i provide a one-piece reversible fulcrum Y which is simple and durable in construction, efficient in operation and which is adaptedrotation of the fulcrum about its axis at the operative positions of the fulcrum for a right or left hand brake beam; The fulcrumis further provided with shoulders and a locking member is provided adapted to coact with. the compression member of the brake'beam and with these shoulders to maintain the fulcrum fixed at either of these desired positions.

of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a truss brake beam equipped with my fulcrum.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view showing the portion of the fulcrum engaging the compression member of the brake beam.

Figure 3 is a view of Figure 2 as seen from above.

Figure 4 is a view of Figure 2 as seen from the right.

Figure 5 is a section of Figure 4 taken on -member.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pgybgntgd A 15 1922 Application filed August 11,1921. Serial N0. 491,406.

the line 5-5 of Figure 4:, the compression member being indicated inbroken lines.

Figure 6 is an edge View of the locking member and V Figure 7 Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings my fulcrum 8 1s shown as forming a part 0 is av face .View of the locking" a truss brake beam consisting of a compression member 9, tension member 10 and heads 11. p The fulcrum is provided with the band portion 12 which, as shown, embraces or surrounds the compression member 9.

As best shown in Figure 4, a rivet 13 is provided passing through. the band portion 12 and the compression member 9 and serving as a pivot for rotation of the fulcrum about its axis. The band portion 12 is further provided with the V-shaped walls 14: and 15 which serve to limit this rotation of the fulcrum about its axis.

As shown in Figure 2, the walls 14- are engagingthe upper and lower faces of the compression member 9, and the fulcrum is at one limit of its movement. If the fulcrum were rotated in the clockwise direction the walls 15 would engage the compression member and stop the rotation at the other limit of movement, which position would be the other operative position of the fulcrum. The fulcrum is thus rotated to change the brake beam from a right hand to a left hand beam, or vice versa. The band portion'12 is further provided withthe extensions 16 forming the shoulders 17 and 18.

The wedge member 19 as best shown in Figures 6 and 7 is provided for the purpose of maintaining the fulcrum fixed at either limit of its movement. This member is provided with'the upset head '20 and with the I have illustrated a preferred embodiment wedge flanges 21. Its opposite face is provided with the flanges 22 which are uniform in height throughout their length. The smaller end of the wedge member is provided with the tongue 23.

As shown in Figure 5, the inner face of the band portion 12 is provided with the paired wedgeways 2 1 and 25. These wedgeways together form a diamond shaped figure as shown, and the two pairs are adapted selectively to cooperate with the wedge flanges 21 on the wedge member 19.

- In locking the fulcrum in place, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and a, with the fulcrum swung to a position such that the walls 1 1 engage the compression member, the wedge 19 is inserted from the left, the wedge flanges 21 engaging the wedgeways 24. The wedge member is moved inwardly until the head engages the left hand shoulder 18 of the band portion 12. The tongue 23 is then upset so as to engage the right hand shoulder'lS. The flanges 22 engage between the upper and lower flanges of the compression again inserted, the wedge flanges 21 now engaging the wedgeways 25. The head 20 now engages one of the shoulders 17 and the tongue 28 is bent up to engage the opposite shoulder 17.

The front end of the fulcrum is provided with two fingers 36 which are shaped and spaced from each other in such manner as to prevent the displacement of the tension member 10 and as further to permit the fulcrum to be reversed without binding against the tension member.

By means of my construction the fulcrum may be locked in its different operative positions in a simple and efficient manner and the fulcrum maybe reversed with a minimum expenditure of time and labor.

It is my intention to cover all my applications of the invention falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims:

What I claim is: v

1. An integrally formed reversible fulcrum having portions embracing a brake beam compression member, said portions being adapted to limit reverse movements of the fulcrum with respect to the brake beam member, shoulders on said portions, and means adapted, positively to engage said shoulders and the brake beam member to lock the fulcrum in operative position relative to the brake beam member.

2. An integrally formed reversible fulcrum having portions embracing abrake beam compression member, said portions be-' ing adapted-toilimit reverse movements of I crum having Vr-shap'ed wall portions for em bracing a brake beam compression member and limiting reversible movements of the fulcrum with respect thereto, shoulders on the fulcrum, and means adapted positively to engage said shoulders and the brake beam member to lock the fulcrum in operative position relative to the brake beam member. I

4. An integrally formed reversible fulcrum having V-shaped wall portions for embracing a brake beam compression member and limiting reversible movements of the fulcrum with respect thereto, shoulders on the fulcrum, and a locking member having a head adapted to engage one of said shoulders and having flanges adapted to engage the brake beam member whereby the fulcrum is locked in operative position relative to the brake beam member.

5. An integrally formed reversible fulcrum having portions embracing a brake beam compression member, said portions be ing adapted to limit reverse movements of the fulcrum with respect to the brake beam member, shoulders on said portions, and a wedge locking member having, a head adapted to engage one of said shoulders, a lockin tongue adapted to engage another of sai shoulders andflanges adapted to engage the brake beam member whereby the fulcrum is locked in operative position relative to the brake beam members.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 2nd day of August, 1921.

WILLIAM 0.1IEDGOOCK. 

